Favorite Buzzards Bay, under strong urging from jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., gamely held off the late charging 25-1 shot Sun Boat to win the $250,000 Californian (gr. II) by a nose on the Cushion Track Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Hoping to get Declan's Moon, the 2-year-old champion male of 2004, back on the winning path, Southern California trainer Ron Ellis has entered the gelding in a one-mile allowance event for older horses at Golden Gate Fields Saturday.

Former juvenile champion Declan's Moon is expected to make just his fourth start since March 2005 in the San Pasqual Handicap (gr. II) on Jan. 6. The 1 1/16-mile event is a leading prep for the Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Miguel Indian Bingo & Casino (gr. I) on March 3.

Champion Declan's Moon fell from the ranks of the undefeated in his first start in more than 16 months when Desert Boom nipped him by a nose at the wire of an optional claiming allowance race at Hollywood Park Sunday.

Buzzards Bay, authoritative winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) in his last start more than two months ago, takes on grade I winners Brass Hat and Perfect Drift in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Saturday.

On the day of the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), the 2005 winner of that race, Buzzards Bay, continued his comeback story with a romping 6 1/2-length win in the $500,000 Oaklawn Park Handicap (gr. II) Saturday before 29,841 in Hot Springs, Ark.

Five months after a tornado ripped through Ellis Park, efforts to repair and rebuild storm-battered areas of the track are making significant progress as the Henderson, Ky., track prepares to open its 83rd racing season on July 19.

Buzzards Bay and Greeley's Galaxy, major stakes winners as 3-year-olds last year who are coming off disappointing efforts in Southern California, can make amends Monday in the $150,000 All American Handicap (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields.

Jay Em Ess Stable's champion Declan's Moon will be on the shelf for at least the next two months after a recent nuclear scan detected a slight injury to the top of his left cannon bone, trainer Ron Ellis said Saturday.

Forced to miss a start in the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) last month due to a quarantine caused by equine herpes virus, Don't Get Mad returned to action Saturday with an impressive win as the odds-on choice in the $217,400 Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.

Jay Em Ess Stable's champion Declan's Moon jogged a mile Wednesday at Santa Anita in his first return to the track after undergoing surgery to remove a bone chip from his left knee in early March. Trainer Ron Ellis said the undefeated son of Malibu Moon is being pointed toward an October return.

Horses stabled in a second Churchill Downs barn placed under quarantine by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture because of confirmed cases of equine herpes virus at the track will be allowed to return to limited training on May 23.

Ogden Mills Phipps' Gotham (gr. III) winner Survivalist breezed five furlongs in :59 3/5 at Belmont Park Monday morning, but trainer Shug McGaughey said he has decided not to run the colt in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and will point instead to the Withers Stakes (gr. II).

Two undefeated colts, Declan's Moon and Rockport Harbor, worked Thursday morning at Santa Anita and Oaklawn Park, respectively, in preparation for their 3-year-old debuts. Declan's Moon turned in a sharp five furlongs in :59 4/5, while Rockport Harbor went the same distance in 1:02 1/5.

During Tuesday's session of the New Zealand Premier Sale at Karaka, people were watching with polite interest at the yearling parade through the sale ring. That was until someone let off the fireworks, which started when the big chestnut filly by boom stallion Giant's Causeway entered the ring.

Undefeated Declan's Moon, the probable leader of the male 2-year-old division of 2004, is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles on March 5, said trainer Ron Ellis Thursday.

The journey to the 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) may only be in its very early stages, but the continued adventures of Robert LaPenta -- "the Accidental Owner" -- are already unfolding. The master of Russian roulette has several guns loaded, and it will be interesting to see in what direction they'll be fired this spring.

Hollywood Park President Rick Baedeker blamed the explosion of the California Indian casino industry for the ongoing drop in attendance and handle during the Inglewood track's 2004 autumn meeting, which ended Dec. 20.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Wilko, who finished a nose behind Giacomo in third in Saturday's Hollywood Futurity (gr. I), will get some time off to allow a quarter crack to heal, according to trainer Craig Dollase.

Undefeated Declan's Moon, who returned from his smasher in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) to take last month's Hollywood Prevue (gr. III), is expected to be accorded favoritism among eight entrants in the $449,500 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) Saturday.

Chasing a possible Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old, unbeaten Declan's Moon returns to action in Saturday's Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) where his competition in the seven-furlong event will include Seize the Day, a smashing 11-length winner of his only start.